Response
According to Elbow, freewriting is incorporates putting down ideas that flow from the mind, without editing or stopping. I support the idea of freewriting since it promotes the speed at which we put down our thoughts and ideas. Mostly, writers carry out the writing process while at the same time going over their concluded sentences to edit for mistakes. Enjoining the editing and writing process leads to time-wasting and sometimes ends up with zero productivity. This aspect is emphasized by Elbow when he says that when writing while editing at the same time, “you can work for two hours trying to get a paragraph “right” and discover it’s not right at all. And then give up.” (Elbow, 2014, p. 106, para. 4). Freewriting also promotes creativity in writers. Elbow reckons that editing in the process of writing makes the writer “nervous, jumpy and inhibited.” (Elbow, 2014, p. 107, para. 5). Therefore, in freewriting, the writer becomes coherent with the flow of ideas, thus promoting creativity.
Rhetorical Mode
Elbow uses the cause and effect rhetorical mode in this article. In the attempt to show the positive aspects of freewriting, the author chose to identify characteristics of non-freewriting and link them to effects they have on writing. The adverse effects, caused by the elements of non-freewriting, are then used to promote the freewriting technique. One of the examples is, Elbow points out editing as one of the elements that happen when a writer does not use the freewriting technique. However, editing is not the undoing in the writing process. The effects of editing while writing are the ones that hurt the writing process. Elbow emphasizes this when he says, "Editing, in itself, is not the problem. …The problem is editing goes on at the same time while producing." (Elbow, 2014, p. 107, para. 5). He then identifies nervousness and incoherence as effects of editing, thus stamping up his support for freewriting.
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Application
I have barely practiced freewriting in the past. My writing has always enjoined the production and editing processes. This approach has been taking more time to come up with written ideas. In most cases, the process leaves me frustrated as I end up forgetting vital information that I intended to capture in my writing. The probability to be less creative and imaginative always arises when I use much of my time to edit while writing. I will apply the author’s ideas by practicing freewriting and then edit up my work at the end of the process. This way, I will capture all my ideas and emotions, and also save up the time used to write. For example, while writing an informal letter or short message, I always edit my text in the process of writing, thus ending up misrepresenting my emotions. This hampers my communication and always sends the wrong tone to the recipient. Freewriting will enable me to express my emotions accurately, thus promoting effective communication.
Reference
Elbow, P. (2014). Freewriting. In G.H. Muller (Ed.), The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues across the disciplines, pp. 105-108. McGraw-Hill.
